Soaking it in

Yesterday I arrived in Dublin, and it had been pretty much raining all day starting in Belfast.  I checked into the B&B and arranged my accommodation for my final night in Dublin.  There is some hurling thing going on in Dublin which has meant it has been difficult to get accommodation for tonight.  After settling in, I made my way into Dublin, but the rain was just this annoying thing biting at me all day, preventing me from enjoying walking around and going places.  I would have walked to a few spots I had on my list to see otherwise.  Instead, I didn't really achieve much at all, and then gave up and went to the movies!  That was my half day in Dublin....going to the movies.  Shame shame shame!

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This morning is not even worth mentioning.  I only did the usual and went to the Post office and then came back and skyped Todd for a bit.  

After that I walked to the bus stop, but needed to buy a ticket first.  After going to two newsagents that didn't sell them I decided just to walk in.  It's a better way to get a real feel for the place anyway.  Before long I was in the city.  I walked past the Garden of Remembrance which was just lovely.

My first aim was to find Jo Burger because a) I felt like a burger for lunch and b) this was supposed to be one of the best burger joints in town.  I found it eventually and ordered.  I also ordered the home-made lemonade, and it was incredible!  When the burger came out, I have to admit it was pretty good, but it wasn't as good as Fancy Burger in Adelaide!  In fact, it was a bit dry, but that may have something to do with me ordering it med-well done.  And I don't think the patty itself was as flavoursome as it could've been.  

I was however, thrilled to have come into the area for lunch though, because after lunch I wandered the area a bit and discovered the market and what appeared to be an alternative area of Dublin.  Awesome funky shops that you can spend hours in.  I also saw a funky coffee shop, and so I had quite an incredible flat white.  The flavour of this particular coffee was not like I have ever tasted anywhere else before.  I wonder where the beans are sourced.  It was also served at the correct temperature and wasn't monster sized!  Perfect.  Pity I didn't find this location on my initial visit to Dublin.  Dammit!

From there I made my way to St Patrick's Cathedral.  Magnificent!  And then I went to Marsh's library which is just behind the cathedral.  A lovely old library, still in use that has books as old as 500 years old.  The man who greeted me at the door was a lovely chatty ol' chap.  (I still struggle with the bloody accent after two and half weeks though.)  And I watched a video of how they decorate/emboss the lovely leather covers in gold.  Fascinating.

Christchurch cathedral was just down the road so I went there, but decided I wouldn't go in...  was that wrong?  I mean, once you've seen one...

This photo shows a bridge connecting Christchurch Cathedral with Dublina.  It is modeled on the Bridge of Sighs in Venice:

A door of Christchurch Cathedral:

Then I stumbled upon 'Queen of Tarts'.  How could I resist.  I almost ordered the Apple Crumble, but thought I should change it around a bit, so I ordered the Lemon Meringue Pie.  They were individual serves and it was huge!  The first couple of bites, I thought it tasted a bit 'eggy', but then that seem to go away and I enjoyed it.  Because I had just a coffee earlier, I had ordered a lemon and ginger tea which accompanied the pie nicely.  However, I got near the end of the pie, and suddenly started to feel very guilty about it and vowed not to eat dinner.   (And I didn't.)

From there I did more walking, window shopping, shopping, and eventually, after walking a few ks I made my way back to the pub I enjoyed so much the first time round in Dublin.  Live music was playing and I ordered a Corona (oops, I was supposed to order Guinness on my last night, wasn't I?).  I watched them for a bit, then I got chatting to a Canadian lady who was also travelling alone (she cycled the Donegal area), we spoke about our Irish experiences, the emigration issue, and a few social issues in relation to Canada and Australia.  Lovely lady.  She had been travelling for two and a half weeks in Ireland (same as me), and flying out tomorrow morning (same as me).  Will probably see her at the airport as she flies out at 10.45, and I fly out at 10.50.

I got back to the B&B and ironed some clothes that I had laundered in Belfast.  Not sure if that will prove a fruitless exercise yet.  Hoping not.  But that's it.  That is my Irish leg done and dusted.  Wow!

I have to say the highlights have been Dublin (I really love Dublin), Kinsale, Dingle, Ring of Kerry and the Giant's Causeway.  And of course, some of the excellent food experiences I have gone out of my way to find, and the ones that found me!

The driving has been a challenge at times.  And I mean really stressful.  But mostly, some of the driving has been some of the best bits.  Alone, with your thoughts, driving around one of the most beautiful and green countries in the world, has been simply a wonderful experience.  

And of course, the people.  Besides the dick-head in the car that day, the people have been lovely.  Friendly and helpful.

This post was written over two days and posted on the third.